Please read this question carefully.  This is what I want.  I have two
splitters with three plugs in the back of each.  They are A and B
splitters.  On the A side I want to hook up through my cable box so I
can watch premium channels and go through my vcr on channel 3 and on
the B side I want the signal to go through just the vcrs and the tv of
course so I can tape any channel (except for the premium channels) at
any time in any combination.  I know this can be done because I have
done it before but I cannot remember how to do it.  Thank you.

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Request for Question Clarification by efn-ga on 04 Jul 2004 22:45 PDT

Hi bryan66,

Let's call the third connection on each splitter C.

A splitter would always connect C to both A and B.  A switch box would
connect C to only one of A or B at a time, selected by a knob or
pushbuttons on the box.

I think you need at least one switch box to solve your problem.  Are
the splitters you described really splitters, or are they switch
boxes?

--efn

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Request for Question Clarification by efn-ga on 05 Jul 2004 10:15 PDT

A couple more questions in light of the comment from crythias:

First, crythias's interpretation of the problem was different from
mine.  His or her interpretation was that you want to be able to
select the cable box, the VCR, or both, between the incoming cable and
the TV.  My interpretation was that the TV is always behind the VCR
and you just want to be able to switch the cable box in and out
between the cable and the VCR.  Which interpretation (if either) is
correct?  crythias's design used two splitters and two switch boxes. 
It would take only one splitter and one switch box to solve my simpler
interpretation of the problem.  Two switch boxes could also work.

Second, does crythias's comment answer your question adequately, or
are you still looking for an answer?  We researchers try to avoid
posting answers that don't add value to the comments.

--efn

How many VCRs and How many TV's and how much quality loss are you willing to accept

efn-ga is correct.

You will need two splitters and two switches to make this work as you
may want it, although I think your video quality will suffer greatly.

sp1 and sp2 are splitters and sw1 and sw2 are a/b switches.

wall->sp1->out1->cablebox->sp2->out1->A of sw2->sw2->TV
                              ->out2->A of sw1->sw1 out->VCR
         ->out2->B of sw1->sw1 out->VCR->VCR out->B of sw2->sw2->TV

To watch cable/premium TV, move sw2 to A.

To record cable/premium TV, move sw1 to A (VCR Channel 3/4).

To watch cable/premium TV while recording another unscrambled: sw1:B, sw2:A

To watch VCR tapes, sw2:B

Another way to look at it: Switch 2 is TV: A for cable box or B for VCR
Switch 1 is VCR record A from cable box or B from a different channel

I am not a Google Answers Researcher.